Determined apprentice Sarah Field has city milestone and Rising Stars Series success in her sights
A dream debut win and broken leg would bookend her first six months in the saddle.
The setback last year followed four unsuccessful attempts to become a Racing Victoria apprentice.
Field, now on the verge of two career milestones, the coveted RMBL Investments Rising Stars Series win and a metropolitan debut, is determined to make up for the lost time.
Four apprentice jockeys, including Field, could overhaul Rising Stars Series leader Tom Prebble, unavailable on Thursday at Ballarat due to suspension, with victory in the 1000m Benchmark 64.
Prebble is stranded on 42 points with only the final to come at Flemington on June 19.
Field (39 points), Stephanie Hateley (37), Logan Bates (34), reigning Rising Stars Series winner Luke Cartwright (32) could reshape the leaderboard on Thursday.
Rose Hammond (28 points) would also climb into contention with a win at Ballarat.
Points are awarded for top five finishers on a 12-6-4-2-1 sliding scale.
Field has favourite Rivkin in the race at Ballarat for Warrnambool trainer Patrick Ryan Jr.
'It's a great series and very grateful to be a part of it,' Field said.
'It's very close, anyone could win it.'
Third-year apprentice Field has ridden 43 winners including seven in the past month.
The 27-year-old used early adversity as motivation.
'I've been knocked back a lot of times and I've had to pick myself back up,' Field said.
'I would've liked to start a bit earlier (apprenticeship) but it's worked out anyway.
'I've ridden horses for a long time, I'm a little bit older than some of the apprentices.
'I'm ready to go to town now, I've been ready for a little bit but I wanted everything to be going smoothly and wanted to be 100 per cent ready when I went.'
Field could make her metropolitan debut in the Rising Stars Final at Flemington.
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an hour ago
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